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how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:46 am
by Catnapper
My husband and I both have the Dreamstation machine. The water chamber for the humidifier defies my efforts to clean it. It has so many corners and crevices in hard to reach places. It gets a film in it in just a few days. We only use distilled water so tap water can't be the cause. I have put them through the dishwasher but the film remains. I have tried Q-tips, soft cloths, vinegar, Blue Dawn, etc. and have very little success in removing the film entirely. Dumping the leftover water and replacing it with fresh water shows that the water chamber has the film, not the water.
What do other people do to clean that darn thing? I don't want to scrub it every single day - lazy old woman that I am. How long between washings can you go and keep it acceptable?
They only cost about $20 new, but I can't (or won't) buy a new one every week.
Catnapper - Joanie
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:18 am
by zonker
Catnapper wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:46 am
They only cost about $20 new, but I can't (or won't) buy a new one every week.
Catnapper - Joanie
well, but do you have spare tanks for each machine? my thinking is that you leave your "scuzzy" tank to soak in vinegar overnight while slotting in the fresh backup tank.
i had one get really bad(that was MY fault;tap water for a long time) and that's what i did to loosen up the stuff on the bottom and in corners.
i also use a microfiber cloth.
good luck!
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:40 am
by palerider
Catnapper wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:46 am
My husband and I both have the Dreamstation machine. The water chamber for the
humidifier defies my efforts to clean it. It has so many corners and crevices in hard to reach places. It gets a film in it in just a few days. We only use distilled water so tap water can't be the cause. I have put them through the dishwasher but the film remains. I have tried Q-tips, soft cloths, vinegar, Blue Dawn, etc. and have very little success in removing the film entirely. Dumping the leftover water and replacing it with fresh water shows that the water chamber has the film, not the water.
What do other people do to clean that darn thing? I don't want to scrub it every single day - lazy old woman that I am. How long between washings can you go and keep it acceptable?
They only cost about $20 new, but I can't (or won't) buy a new one every week.
Catnapper - Joanie
Salt and alcohol, swish. the
salt helps to abrade the biofilm.
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 12:00 pm
by zonker
palerider wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:40 am
Salt and alcohol, swish. the
salt helps to abrade the biofilm.
cue chunkyfrog and vodka.
<clink> cheers!!
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 12:15 pm
by palerider
zonker wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 12:00 pm
palerider wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:40 am
Salt and alcohol, swish. the
salt helps to abrade the biofilm.
cue chunkyfrog and vodka.
<clink> cheers!!
Yup! you don't even have to rinse it all that well if you use cheap vodka
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 2:14 pm
by SleepGeek
A couple of thoughts
Catnapper wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:46 am
We only use distilled water so tap water can't be the cause. I have put them through the dishwasher but the film remains.
I don't know what your tap water is like but feel sure that it is not "distilled" in any way. Wash, if you must, but use only distilled to wash and rinse with. That alone should help, IF it doesn't take a look at what you are using for distilled water.
Some buy distilled water from the baby section of the store (Walmart for example). When reading the bottle it will certainly say "Distilled" with "Minerals ADDed". The film you are complaining about it a result of mineral deposits. IF so, stop using it.
All the best.
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 2:39 pm
by rcobourn
CleanSmart, available on Amazon. You don't need the specific formulation for CPAP. They're all the same with different bottles and labeling. The spray mechanism and pattern vary. I usually get the "Toy Disinfectant" formula, it's usually cheapest and the bottle is a convenient size and shape. It cuts the biofilm easily. My process is wash in soap and water, rinse, then spray with CleanSmart. You don't need a second rinse, as it breaks down to saline solution. I especially enjoy how it removes any odor from nasal cushions. They are left with a mild bleach like smell, although there is no bleach involved.
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 3:33 pm
by Okie bipap
We don't use the Dreamstation, but I do the cleaning on our equipment. I use an old artist brush that is about 1/4 wide to get into the corners of our water chambers. The areas I can't reach with that brush, I can clean with an old tooth brush. My water chamber is over 5 years old, and my wife's is over 3 years old. I have been cleaning them this way since I first started. The one time we got a little of the pink stuff in the corners of one of the reservoirs was easily removed with the artist brush.
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:11 pm
by palerider
SleepGeek wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 2:14 pm
A couple of thoughts
Catnapper wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:46 am
We only use distilled water so tap water can't be the cause. I have put them through the dishwasher but the film remains.
I don't know what your tap water is like but feel sure that it is not "distilled" in any way. Wash, if you must, but use only distilled to wash and rinse with.
Not even any of the manufacturers recommend THAT.
It's a waste of distilled water.
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:20 pm
by SleepGeek
palerider wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:11 pm
SleepGeek wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 2:14 pm
A couple of thoughts
Catnapper wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:46 am
We only use distilled water so tap water can't be the cause. I have put them through the dishwasher but the film remains.
I don't know what your tap water is like but feel sure that it is not "distilled" in any way. Wash, if you must, but use only distilled to wash and rinse with.
Not even any of the manufacturers recommend THAT.
It's a waste of distilled water.
Oh Yea, Distilled water @99 cents/gallon.
My question is why would you waste the vodka? And what is the vodka costing?
Are you not the same one who always says they are trying to sell you more supplies? Every month? Do I have to search your posts again?
You don't know how to be helpful or to reply to the OP do you.
Sleep apnea is not your problem - you are just angry and filled with hatred. Nothing good was ever posted by you.
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:33 pm
by Pugsy
Enough with the personal attacks.
Disagree with the message in a polite manner but stop the personal psycho babble attack crap.
This thread will NOT get derailed with personal attacks. Further such comments will be promptly removed.
Your message was disagreed with in a polite manner...not a personal attack on you and yet you come up with this crap.
People have the right to disagree and voice it. Get over it.
SleepGeek wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:20 pm
You don't know how to be helpful or to reply to the OP do you.
Sleep apnea is not your problem - you are just angry and filled with hatred. Nothing good was ever posted by you.
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:50 pm
by zonker
Pugsy wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:33 pm
People have the right to disagree and voice it. Get over it.
SleepGeek wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:20 pm
You don't know how to be helpful or to reply to the OP do you.
Sleep apnea is not your problem - you are just angry and filled with hatred. Nothing good was ever posted by you.
In a world where you can be anything why not choose to be kind?
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:12 pm
by palerider
zonker wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:50 pm
Pugsy wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:33 pm
People have the right to disagree and voice it. Get over it.
SleepGeek wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:20 pm
You don't know how to be helpful or to reply to the OP do you.
Sleep apnea is not your problem - you are just angry and filled with hatred. Nothing good was ever posted by you.
In a world where you can be anything why not choose to be kind?
Some people just can't handle it if someone implies that they're wrong... *shrug*
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:17 pm
by Deborah K.
I have quite hard water but decided to stop using distilled water in the water chamber anyway, and then observe how things went. It's been great! After a week or so I put some vinegar in the very bottom only and let it sit for about half an hour. Then I use a really stiff brush that looks a lot like a slightly large toothbrush. The white film washes off easily, I rinse and am done. I saves me carrying gallons of distilled water upstairs all the time and it saves money. Works for me.
Re: how to clean water chamber
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 10:54 am
by Catnapper
Thanks for all the help. The distilled water does not have added minerals, so that didn't cause the problem. I have soaked the chamber in vinegar all day without much luck. I will try the other suggestions. I had not thought of salt or alcohol but I will try it. I never buy expensive vodka anyway, just the cheap stuff. I have used a nice clean toothbrush and the round one from the Oral B brush,and even some Q-tips to clean the corners. It would help if the top part could be removed or if it didn't have such a complicated design.
Thanks again for responding and offers of help.
Catnapper - Joanie